Canford Bottom roundabout’s controversial £5.7million makeover is back on – just a week after transport ministers put it on hold over a lack of information.

MP Annette Brooke does not think Highways Agency bosses have justified the nine-month revamp and is vowing to fight it “on all fronts” because road closures will have a dreadful effect on local businesses.

Work on the traffic bottleneck between Wimborne and Ferndown on the A31 is due to start next month and be finished ahead of the Olympic events in Weymouth next June.

Business owners are incensed by the lack of consultation and want a judicial review.

Wimborne BID director Martin Tidd says the Highways Agency is “running roughshod” over their worries about closing side roads for up to three months.

Mrs Brooke says this is appalling and could “devastate trade” in the current financial climate.

The Mid Dorset and North Poole MP said: “The overwhelming view from the businesses was: why not just close the side roads for the fortnight of the Olympics and just let the A31 flow over the roundabout?

“No wonder people are angry. They are fearful for the future of their businesses, and rightly so.”

She feels the Canford Bottom roundabout improvements are a “waste of scarce resources” and will only push traffic jams down to Merley.

“I have to concur that this scheme is being pushed through because of the Olympics,” Mrs Brooke added.

“But people just do not want to see businesses and livelihoods destroyed for the sake of getting traffic across just that little bit quicker.”

If the scheme goes ahead, the Parliamentary Ombudsman could compensate businesses, she said.

And she would want a panel of Highways Agency, Dorset County Council, East Dorset District Council and business representatives to monitor the projects to get “some semblance of democracy” back.

Dorset County Councillors Robin Cook, for Wimborne, and Janet Dover, for Colehill, are calling for a further delay or staggering the project so less severe diversions are needed.

Since the deferral, the Highways Agency has posted traffic data and predicted effects on queues online.

Junior transport minister Mike Penning said: “I have to bear in mind the risk to the Olympic Route Network should this scheme be delayed.

“I am therefore content to allow the contract for this scheme to be awarded.”